Sacramento State embraces music of the world

Ancient Future will perform Nov. 30 as part of the World Music Concerts.

Sacramento State’s World Music series does just what it promises—brings music from around the world to the Sacramento Community.

“The entire series of World Music Concerts are of a remarkably high standard,” says Sacramento State music professor Jim Chopyak, organizer of the concerts. “Musicians really enjoy performing here, in part because of the diversity in the audience.”

The series continues at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22, with Satash Vyas performing North Indian Music. Vyas has been a regular concert artist for the last two decades, performing and recording all over India and the world.

The group ILGI will perform Latvian music at 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 28. ILGI is one of the biggest names in the Baltic—banner carriers for the Latvian sound. The five-piece group performs heavy and dense folk-rock music.

Veretski Pass takes the stage at 8 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7, performing traditional East European klezmer music. Described as a virtuosic group of musical eccentrics, the trio features melodies from Medieval Poland; dances from Bessarabia, Ruthenia and Bukovina; and music with roots in the Ottoman Empire played on a variety of instruments including violin, bass viol, button accordion, bass drum and tsimbl.

The fall series concludes with Ancient Future at 8 p.m., Friday, Nov. 30. Playing music described as “Arabic fusion,” Ancient Future has been praised by Billboard magazine for its “technical brilliance and gypsy-like fire.”

“No one needs to be an expert in the music to get something from attending a performance,” Chopyak says.

All concerts are in the Recital Hall of Capistrano Hall on the Sacramento State campus, 6000 J. Street. Cost is $15 general admission and $8 for students.

Tickets are available at the Sacramento State Ticket Office, (916) 278-4323 or at www.tickets.com.